Sign



Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

ALFRED HORATIO HUMPHREY, OF SALEM, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T GRACE G.

HUMPHREY, 0F SALEM, NEW YORK.

SIGN.

Application led October 22, 1924. Serial No. 745,202.

lmum diffused illumination at the several sides of the sign, and to provide ample in terior illumination kfor the desirable visibility of the sign from the frontor at an anglel and without the necessity of employing the usual external illumination.

A further object` of the invention is to provide a sign of the indicated character embodying a frame of few parts and of simple form and of a character to possess the maximum strength and stability.

Specifically, the invention b as for an ob ject to provide a sign iii wh1cli the light ing mea-ns is .made readily accessible.

The nature of my invention and its distinguishing features `and vadvantages will clearly appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrativel of one example ofl the invention,

Figure 1 is avertical section of a sign embodying my invention, a part of the post and central tube therein being broken away;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section in the plane indicated in the line 2 2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevationof thereflector assemblage at each side of the sign;

Figure 4 isa perspective view of the skeleton frame of the sign;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in elevation showing thelight-emitting openings in a formto constitute letters.

In carrying out my invention in practice a post usually of concrete is provided, to

r be set up any desired point along a highway. 'Ihe sign supported on the post 10 at the upper end comprises central verticalelements 11 arranged in box-like form1to accommodate at the lower portionl of the sign 0 the upper end of the post 10. At two opposite sides of the central assemblage. of upright frame members 11 are sideframes des-y ignated generally by the numeral 12 composed of a top frame 13, a bottom Hamel/1,

and upright frames at the front of each side frame 12. The top and bottom frames 13, 14 flare from the back forwardly to the front, and the back of each frame 13, 14 is secured to a pair of the upright frame member 11 below the upper ends of said members 11. The members 13, 14, 15 are in one piece which is notched at the corners to facilitate bending. 1

Toeach yside frame 12 and between the ends of said frames 12, I provide reflectors so that there is a reflecting assemblage provided for each side of the sign,fthe illustrated sign being four-sided. The reflectors include flat side reflecting plates 17 convergent toward the inner end and extending obliquely from a member 15 or corner of the side frame 12 to the vertical frame members 11. In associationv with the pair of side plates 17, I employ a central reflecting plate 18 curved vertically, that is, from the bottom edge, to the top edge, and the sides of said plate are concave in the arc of a circle so that at the bottom edge and the top edge of the reflecting plate 18; said plate extends laterally to the vertical corner members 15 while at the center or waist of the plate 18, the curvature of the samev disposes the central narrow portiony against the outer faces of the vertical frame members 11. Thus, at each side of the central frame assemblage formed by the vertical members 11, there is a curved reflector plate 18 and at both sides of the curved reflector plate 1S thereare fiat reflector plates 17 convergent from the front of the sign inwardly toward the center.

\ I would mention that the reflecting character ofthe plates 17 and 18 may be produced by white paint or the side plates 17 may be painted white or enameled white, and the central curved reflector may be either painted white or mirrored. Side plates 17 `reflect at both sides; thus one side plate reflects in two compartments... In each central plate 18 atthe narrow portion is a hole 19 throughwhich holes passthe lateral tubular yarms 20 carrying lighting means. Said arms are appurtenantto a tube 23 which may be a gas pipe or. condulet for electric wires. In the illustrated example the arms 20 are equipped with sockets 21` for electric lamps 22,

I maltev provision `in my improved sign for affording access to the lighting means through the yreflector plates 18 from the center of the sign, that is to say, within the frame assemblage formed by themembers.

opens toward the interior of said assemblage;

At the upper end of the frame assemblage formed by the vertical members 1'1 is a horizontal top frame 2G. Fitting the top frame 2G is a base 27 of an ornament 28- which may be of any design or character, illuminated or otherwise. Said ornament 28 in the illustrated example is in the form'of a ball. The engagement of the-base 27 with the frame 2 6is a detachable one so that with a lifting, off of the ornament 28and its base 27, an arm may be passed downwardly within the frame members forming the assemblage 11 and laterally betweenI the same to openl a given closure 24 to afford accessto the lighting means 21, 22.

A suitable rooff'or cap 29 is provided' advantageously a roof taperingupwardly at all sides and overlapped by a flange 127 on the base 27. Each side of the sign isclosed by a suitable closure or front 3() here shown asin the form of a flat plate and hereinafter termed; the front and said front 30 is formed" with light-emitting-apertures 3l as shown in Figures 'l and 2. ting apertures in the front designated 130 in Figure 5 may be arranged in the form of sign letters 131. The numeral 115A represents holes in the upright members 15 in the side members 12 for fastening the plates 17, 18. The numeral 25' indicates drainage apertures in the front pairs ofthe bottom frames 14- so that if any water should find entrance through the openings 21 or otherwise to the interior of the sign, such water or moisture will` drain through the apertures 25.

In order that the light reflected by the plates 17, 18 may be difl'used andcause an ample illumination, the front end of each lampI 22 is painted as indicated at 122 to make the same opaque and prevent illumination by direct forward rays.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment ofI my invention, I do not limit myselfv strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied .without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In, a sign structure, an elongated vertical frame and a side frame connected thereto, a sign atthe front of the side-l frame, said elongated frame affording accommodation for the upper end of a supporting post and The light-emitextending materially above the post end, reflector means disposed at` the same side of the elongatedy frame as said side frame and connected therewith and presenting an openingat the back thereof and4 a, closure therefore, and lighting, means positioned adjacent said opening, said elongated frame affording access therethrough and through the opening in the reflector to said lighting means.

2. In a sign structure, a central frame assemblage, side frames spaced from each other and connected to said central frame assemblage, signs at the sides of said structure and reflector means supported' in said side frames and between said side frames,

lsaid reflector means at each side of the sign comprising flat side reflector plates and a central vertically curved reflector plate, together with means in front of said reflector means adapted to receive and support lightproducing means.

3. In a sign structure, an elongated central supporting frame, side frames connected to said central frame, and projecting outwardly therefrom, a sign at the front of said side frames, and reflector mea-ns in said side frames, said reflector means including a pair of inwardly convergent side plates and a vertically curved reflector plate between the inner ends of the convergent plates, together withmeans in front of said' reflector means adapted to support light producing means.

4j In a sign structure, an elongated central supporting frame, side frames connected to said central frame and projecting outwardly therefrom, a sign at the front of said side frames, and reflector means with saidv side frames, said reflector means including a pair of inwardly convergent side plates and a vertically curved reflector plate between t-he inner ends of said convergent plates, said curved reflector plate having concave side edges, together with means in front of saidl reflector plates adapted to support light producing means.

5. In a sign structure a vertically disposed central supporting frame assemblage, affording accommodation for the upper end of a supporting post and extending materially above said post end, signs at the sides of said structure, reflector means disposed at opposite sides of said central frame assemblage. and' presenting an opening at the baclr thereof, and a closure for said opening.y together with lighting means positioned adjacent said opening, said central frame assemblage affording at the interior thereof access through said openings in the reflectors to said lighting means.

6; In a sign structure, a central frame and side frames, vsaid' central frame affording accommodation for the upper end of' supporting post, reflector means grouped around the central frame, signs at the` sides of said structure, and op osite the reflector means, lighting means a jacent the reflector means, a tube extending vertically through the aforesaid support post, and lateral tubular arms on said tube, said arms extending through the reflector means to the front thereof and supporting 'said lighting means.

7. In a sign structure, a frame including an elongated vertically disposed assemblage of members at the approximate center, reflector means at the sides of the frame, said reflector means including side plates convergent laterally and inwardly and a vertically curved reflector plate between the inner ends of said side plates, said side plates presenting reflecting surfaces on their two faces, together with means in front of said reflector means adapted to support light producing means.

8. In a sign structure an elongated vertical frame, a side frame connected to said elongated frame, a sign at the front of the side frame, said elongated and side frames presenting openings at the back of said sign, reflector means in said side frame, the rear side and rear reflector provided with an opening, means adjacent said reflector opening to receive and support lighting means, a closure for said reflector opening, said closure movable to afford access to the lighting means through the openings of the elongated and side frames.

ALFRED HORATIO HMPHREY. 

